The new features will work on more than 160 channels of television programming in the United States regardless of whether users subscribe to cable or satellite television.

According to Shazam the App, which works on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android devices, gets more than two million users per week.

This makes it one of the top ten most downloaded apps of all time since its debut in 2008.

There have been no announcements about intentions to expand the new features outside the United States but Shazam-enabled adverts aired in the UK earlier this year.

In May the first Shazam-enabled adverts ran on ITV, offering viewers the chance to win prizes such as music festival passes and London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony tickets.

This followed a deal between Shazam and ITV which let viewers interact with the special adverts to enter competitions, download music and get further information about products.

For example sports events will include statistics, scores and schedules instead of cast information.

American channels have already broadcasted Shazam-enabled events. According to Shazam more than one million people tagged the Olympic closing ceremony on NBC.

Andrew Fisher, the chief executive of Shazam said:

"With more than a quarter of a billion people who have used Shazam worldwide, no other app has our scale when it comes to offering the opportunity to engage with the media that interests them the most, whether it’s music or television. And now, that experience is even better than before, enabling people in the US to engage with any show at any time."